Army of Humans and Monsters-The Book

Chapter 19

Five hours later, Jenkins and the other recruits are standing on the grounds, waiting for the commander to show up.

“Where is he?” one of the recruits asked, quietly, and nervously.

“He has to be someone powerful,” said another.

“Yah, he must be if that werewolf, Bloodtooth, is afraid of him,” said yet another.

“Guy’s, I don’t think so,” Jenkins said.

At this, the others looked at him.

“Why would you say that?” the young wizard that stood next to him, with some sort of brace on his nose, asked.

Also, the two giants that had been taught to be weary of Doc, and his granddaughter, kneeled down, so that they could talk as well.

“He must be powerful and well skilled in magic,” said the one with the, re-broken, arm.

“And he must be strong as well,” said the one who had been beaten by the Doc’s granddaughter.

At this, Jenkins just laughed and said, “Something tells me that he is as human as I am, and without any magic at that as well.”

“How about we make a bet?” The wizard asked. “If he’s as human as you, I won’t use any magic, except for when an officer tells me to.”

“And what about you two guys?” Jenkins asked, looking at the giants. “Care to make a wager?”

At this, the two giants looked at each other.

“What’s your wager first?” one asked.

“Yah, what will you do if you lose?” said the other.

“Well, before I left school, I did learn how to give massages,” Jenkins said. “How about I give all three of you one whenever you want it?”

“Well in that case, I’ll carry you around if you are right,” said the giant with the re-broken arm.

“And I’ll carry your stuff,” said the other.

“Okay then,” Jenkins said, with a smile. “Let’s consider this bet on.”

“Oh, I’d be careful about making any bets you four,” The Lieutenant Colonel said, with a smile, as he walked past them. “Living up to ones deals can be hard to keep. Also, the Commander will be here soon. He just likes to, take his time, as it were, when he actually introduces himself.”

A few minutes later, a man who looked to be about fifty, walked out of the barracks, with a limp, and using a cane to help him walk. As he went to five officers, one of which was the Lieutenant Colonel, all of the officers, began to salute, as he walked past each of them.

When he was in front of the five officers, each of them who were just below the commander, whom the officers of their respective branches reported to, saluted him at once.

“Good evening sir,” Lieutenant Colonel Jethro Seventails said. “I trust that your walk was a pleasant one.”

“Ah, that it was Jethro,” the old man said. “There is nothing like a good long walk to set ones mind at ease, especially since I have to command this place, and keep things running smoothly.”

“I couldn’t agree more, sir,” Seventails said, as the old man saluted to the five officers in return.

“At ease gentlemen,” he said, as he, and all the other officers, lowered his hand. He then looked at the recruits, walked in front of them, looked at the Drill Sergeants, who nodded, and stepped back, looked back at the recruits, and said, in a normal sounding voice, one that radiated confidence, instead of overwhelming power, “I am Colonel Jacobs Sanders. I am the commander of this fort. Now, if you think that it is beneath you to work under a human, guess what, I don’t give a damn! Here in the military, we do things a lot differently. For instance, if you try something that wouldn’t get you into trouble out there, like raping, or murdering, someone, you could find yourselves being executed, no matter whom you are. We operate under a code, which our founder wrote down before he did what he did. In this code, which will be given to you by your guiding officer, you will see how it is that the entire military is run. This information is not to be revealed to anyone, not even your priest at confession. In fact, we will take you, and your priest, and execute the two of you, right here, on the grounds, and our chaplain will exorcise your spirits, all to keep the code a secret. As for your bodies, the officers will take them, and Chef will cook them up for them. This is because, while soldiers are not allowed to eat their comrades, a traitor is no one’s comrade! That is what you will be if you even as much as talk about it in your sleep. In fact, I will execute you myself, in a way that makes being killed by Doc’s son-in-law seem pleasant, in comparison.”